For safety’s sake, carry only necessary items in your purse

Dear Readers: Have you ever thought about what you carry in your purse? For many women, purses are their lives, it seems. But the reason for taking stock of what’s inside your handbag is to consider what would be lost if the bag were stolen.

UPull out all credit and ID cards. Do you need to use them all? Do you have copies of the numbers of all your cards or a list of numbers to call to cancel cards if they are stolen?

UWhat high-tech items are you carrying? A cell phone, earphones, music player, beeper, charger or text-messaging device? How much are they worth, and how much would it cost to replace them? Do you need to bring them with you all the time?

ULook at other objects of surprising value, such as sunglasses, cosmetics, leather wallet, etc.

UWrite down the value of everything in your purse and the price of the bag. The amount might be startling and make you reconsider what you put in your purse regularly. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Plastic newspaper bags are fabulous and have a bunch of uses, but storing them can be a dilemma. Here are some of my favorite storage ideas:

UStuff them in a large, empty tissue box and pull them out one by one (just like a tissue).

UA clean, plastic milk jug works. Cut a hole in the side to put bags in.

UUse an empty baby towelette container — it’s sturdy. K.M. from Texas

Love your hints! I stuff them all in a large shopping bag (along with plastic grocery bags) under a counter to grab and reuse for so many things. Readers, other hints? Heloise

Dear Heloise: Take a picture of your license plate and save it on your cell phone just in case your car is ever stolen. You will have the info on hand when calling the police! Jerry Hewitt, via e-mail

Jerry, you’re right — this is a good idea! Heloise

Sound off

Dear Heloise: I work for an optometrist with a six-person staff. As the receptionist, I make several dozen calls a day, confirming appointments, letting patients know that their contacts/glasses are ready and such. The billing person also makes calls, as does the doctor’s assistant and the optician. Nothing irks me more than answering the phone to hear: “I just missed a call from this number. Why did you call me?” My first question is, “Did you listen to the message?” and the caller says he or she didn’t check! Why have voice mail or an answering machine if you are not going to use it as intended? So, please listen to the message first and then call. Mary D., Lakewood, N.J.

XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate